Game apparatus.



C. E. BURGH c C. A. WOOLSEY.

GAMB APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1911` 1,053,568, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

mim*

C. E. BURCH & C. A. WOOLSEY.

GAMB APPARATUS,

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 17, 1911.

1,053,568 Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. E. BUROH & C. A. WOOLSEY.

GAMB APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 17, 1911.

1,053,568.. Patented 1eb.18,1913.`

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Smm rm C. E. BURCH & C. A. WOOLSEY.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY17, 1911.

1,053,568.Y Patented Feb.18,1913.

C. E. BURCH & C. A. WOOLSEY. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1011.

1,053,568, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

CHARLES n. BUBOH AND AssIeNons To HOME A CORPORATION.

PATENT ouuron.

CHARLES A. WOOLSEY, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AMUSEMENT COMPANY, 0FMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA,

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed July 17, 1911. Serial No. 888,950.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. BURCH and CHARLES A. WOOLSEY, ofMinneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have 'invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to games and particularly to a game apparatusinvolving the principal features of the modern game of base ball.

. the

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will admitof a considerable degree of skill in t-he manipulation of the parts andin which the playing of the Game to a point approaching perfection willfollow only after considerable practice and care in the movement of theminiature players.

A further object is to provide a game in which skill and practice aresuch important factors that the interest of the players nianipulatingthe objects on the diamond will be easily maintained.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detaileddescription.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly ponted outin the'claims. y

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure1 is .a plan view of a game board embodying our invention, Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the same, Fig. 3 is a sectional view through theboard, Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the mechanism forOperating the ligure representing the'base runner, and the meanspermitting the folding of the sections of the board Fig. 5 is aperspective View, illustrating the game boardfolded into a formsubstantially the shape of a suit case, Fig."6 is a detail 'sectionalview showing a front view of the figure representing the base runner,Fig. 7 is a detail view representing the catcher, Fig. 8 is a det-ailsectional view of the device representing one of the out ielders, Fig. 9is a det-ail sectional view showing the manner of mountinr the inclosingwalls or fence upon' the tfloor of the board, Fig. 10 is a detailsectional view of miniature figure representing the pitcher, showing thepitching arm thrown back ready to pitch the ball, Fig. 11 1s a similarview in another position, showing the arm thrown forward to pitch theball and the mechanism for operating the arm, Fig. 12 is a detail planview of the lever mechanism for operating the pitching device, Fig. 13is a detail view showing the mechanism that is actuated by the movementof the levers in Fig. 12, Fig. 14 is a detail view showing the manner ofmounting the pitcher figure on the board, Fig. 15 is a detail sectionalView illustrating the batter figure, the figure beingshown in sideelevation, Fig. 16 1s a similar view on the section line -zv of Fig. 15,Fig. 1.7 is a detail sectional view of the mechanism for contro-llingthe movement of the batter.

In the di'awing, 2 and 3 represent the sections of the board, havingstrips 5 and 6 thereon secured together by a hinge 7. This hinge allowsthe board to be folded until the wal s 8 at the outer edges of the boardcontactv with one another and form a box, as shown in Fig. 5,substantially the shape of a suit case, handles 9 being provided forcarrying the box so formed, a fastening device 10 holding the sectionssecurely together.

The diamond is marked off on the board by suitable lines 11, the homeplate being indicated at 12, the batters box at 13, and the pitchers-boxat 14. The first, second, and third bases are represented by numerals15, 16 and 17, and the coaching boxes at the first' and third bases arerepresented by numerals 18 and 19. The first, second and third baserunners are represented by numerals 20, 21 and 22 and consist of plateshinged at 23 on the corresponding bases and having depending portions 24projecting through Openings 25 in the board, and pivotally connectedwith rods 26. A sleeve 27 is provided at the hinged edges of the boardsand adapted to receive rods 26 and 28, there being a rod 28 foreachvbase projecting outside the board and provided with finger grips29. Levers 30, 31 and 32 are pivotally mounted on the board and con-Anected with the levers 26 at first and third bases and also with the oerating rods 28. At the second base the roc 26 is connected with thelever 31 and is threaded at one end to receive the correspondinglythreaded rod 28. This connection allows the folding of the bo-ard andwhen the game is set up the threaded ends are secured together and thefigure representing the base runner operated v.in the same manner as thefigures at 'the ing toward second base 1s pushed into the sleeve 27 andconnected with the threaded end of the rod 26 so that pressure on the irod will raise the gure representing the base runner to an uprightposition.

This

,v will only be done when` the batter makes a hit and reaches secondbase. If the batter makes a one base hit the figure on first base willbe raised and if a two base hit the ligure on second base will belifted; or when the base runner, having made abase hit, steals second orthird base, the proper figure will be raised to indicate the position ofthe runner.

We prefer to interpose levers 30, 31, and 32 in the connections betweenthe operating rods 28 and the rods 26 connected to figures representingthe base runners so that all the finger grips f29 may be arranged closetogether within convenient reach of one of the persons playing the game,and at this point we might state that the person Ina- `jnipulatin'g thebatter will, of course, have charge of the figures representing the baserunners.

We prefer to designate the pitcher by reference numeral 33. (See Fig.11). The

feet of this figure are provided with pinsl 34 which lit into socketsprovided in the plate 35 and in the floor of the board, so

that the figure canbe readily detached from.

the board when the game is folded.

On the underside of the board a hanger 36 is provided, supporting ashaft 37 which lies in a plane parallel, substantiallywith the board andcarries a hub 38 having a cam 39 mounted thereon. The pitcher igure hasa shaft 40 extending transversely therethrough on which a lug 41 issecured.` A. rod 42 is pivotally connected with this lug :at its upperend and at its lower end has a loose pivotal connection at 43 with thecam 39. Arms 44 and 45 are mounted on the shaft 40, the arm 44 having ahand 46 that is adapted to receive the ball to be pitched. This hand andarm swing upwardly in the act of pitching, so that the ball is thrownoverhand in a manner correspondin to overhand pitching in the -game ofbase all. A set screw 47 1s mounted in the pitcher figure in the path ofthe lug 41 to act as a stop therefor and limit theupward swingingmovement of the pitching arm. Evidently, if the arm has a limitedmovement the ball' .will be thrown slower, while, if the arm shoulder 48and with a flat face 49. A. le-

ver 50 is pivoted on the shaft 37 and carries a dog 51 thatiis adaptedto engage the shoulder 48 and rotate the cam against the tension of aspring 52 that is mounted on the shaft 37. The lever 50 is attached toan operating rod 53 and the hand lever 54 is pivoted at 55 and has anarm 56 connected y to the rod 53. This lever 54 projects through a slot`57 in the wall of the board where it can be conveniently reached by theplayer.

A finger 58 is preferably provided on the board in position to engagethe dog 51A and insure its contact with the shoulder 48. We also preferto provide a lever 59 pivoted on the shaft 37 and having a trip lug 60in the path of the dog 51. A rod 61 is attached to this lever 59 andconnected to an arm 62 on a lever 63 that is pivoted at 64 near thelever 54. This lever v63 also has an arm 65 to which the bar l66 isattached, said bar slid-- eration is hastened, sthe pitching arm will bechecked before reaching a vertical position, as when the trip lever isswung toward the dog 51 the bar 66 will be moved inward to check therevolution of the cam 39. The player manipulating the lever 63 can thusvary the throwing position of the pitchersarm and deliver a slow or fastball, as vdesired. This re ulation of the manner of delivery enables teplayer to change the speed y by varying the release of the cam thespeed i of the ball at the plate can be varied, and by only putting thespring under very slight tension a slow ball can be pitched. At any timethe speed of the ball may be varied by changing the point of release ofthe cam.

In Figs. 15 and 16 wehave illustrated a batter figur 64, removablysupportedon a base 65 that fits into an opening 66 in the floor oftheboard. A bracket 67 is secured on the underside of the board beneath thebatter figure. A shaft 68, preferably polygonal in cross sections ismounted on the bracket 67 and a hub 69 is secured to the base 65 and isvertically slidableon said shaft to raise or lower said base. An arm 70is mounted on a rock shaft 71 and has a forked end provided with pins 72.which s `or depress the bat-ter figure and thereby change the elevationof the bat. A cam 75 is mounted on the shaft 68 and a spring 76 has oneend attached to the hub of said cam and the other to the bracket 67. Anarm 77 is mounted loosely on the shaft 68 and carries a dog 79 adaptedto engage a shoulder 80 on the cam 75, said dog being normally held inposition to engage said shoulder by the tension of a spring 81. A link82 connects the arm 77 withy one arm 83 of a lever 84 which is pivotedat 85. The operation of thisl lever will move the cam until the spring76 has been put under tensio-n and when the dog 7 9:engages the stop 86it will be tripped 20 to release the cam and allow the batter tig- Vureto swing on its pivot and bring the bat into the path of the pitchedball. At the same time the player may elevate or depress the batter andraise or lower the bat, according to the kind of ball one player thinksthe other player will cause the pitcher figure to pitch.v

The fence which we prefer to employ we will designate by referencenumeral 86, said fence having pins 87 ltherein adapted to enter sockets88 in the Hoor of the board. This fence'incloses the diamond, outfield,and the space where many foul balls are batted, on the right and lefthand of the catcher. Above the fence proper We prefer to provide anadditional fence 89 fo-rming a superstructure and containing a series ofholes 90, preferably circular in form, and additional openings 91. Ascreen 92 is secured to the top of the superstructure 89 and extendsdown to a runway 93, which is mounted on j the outer walls of the fenceand is inwardly and downwardly inclined to direct the balls passingthrough the holes back to the openings 94, where the balls will bedelivered to the catcher.

In playing the game, the batting of a ball through the openings into therunway constitutes'a fly ball caught.

To represent the out tielders, we prefer to provide traps 95 havingopenings 96 at their forward ends and guard plates 97 which prevent theball, after rolling into` a tr'ap,

from bounding out again, the plates 97v bending sufficiently, asindicated in Fig'. 8,

to allow the balls to roll freelyinto the trap.

We also provide a catcher figure 98 provided with a curved plate 99having guards 100 sutliciently far apart to allow the ball to enter thereceptacle formed by the plate and roll out through an opening 101 inthe rear, where it can be gathered up by the player and returned t-o thepitcher.

Alpin 102 is preferably provided in the floor of theboard, dependinginto a recess `fields.

103 in the periphery of the disk 65, acting as a stop to limit themovement of the disk and the rotation of the batter figure in bothdirections.

In playing the game, one person willv have charge of the leverscontrolling the pitcher ligure, the other person the levers controllingthe batter gure and the mechanism for operating the figure representingthe base runner. The catcher will be put 1n position behind the batterandthe devices representing the out telders as well as the in fielderswill be placed in their positions near the re,- spective bases and inleft, center and right The person controlling vthe pitcher figure willthen manipulate his levers to pitch the ball to the batter, the speed ofthe ball beingV governed by the time of delivery and the point where theoperating mechanism for actuating the pitchers arm is released. Theperson in charge of the batter will rotate the figure to swing the batand at the same time may raise or lower the batter to change theelevation of the bat and bring it to a point where he thinks the pitcherwill put the ball over the plate. Of course, if the pitcher delivers adrop ball and the person in charge of the batter misjudges the deliveryand elevates the batter, a strike will result. In case the ball strikesthe bat and tlies upward and is caught by the receptacle in front .ofthe catcher, or' passes through the holes in the fence to right or leftof the catcher, then the batter is out, as usual when a foul-is caught.This will also be true of any fly ball that is caught in one of thedevices representing the in and out fielders. In case the ball is.batted to a point in or outside the diamond Where 1t is evident thefielder cannot put out the runner at first base, the figure representingthe base runner atrst base is lifted, indicating that the batter hassafely reached first base. In case of a wild pitch or a passed ball, itis then assumed that the base runner would have ample time vto reachsecond base and the figure on first base is drawn down while -the one onsecond base is raised. This will also be tru'e in case a hit is made forone base. In case of a two base hit with the runner on second base, thefigure at third base might be raised to an upright position or not, aspreferred, to indicate that the runner had'passed third base and hadscored.

We claim as our invention 1. In a game apparatus representing the gameof base ball, a pitcher figure provided with a swinging arm adapted topitch a ball supported by the arm,- said arm swinging in a substantiallyvertical plane to pitch the ball overhand, and means under control of aplayer for regulating the time of delivery of the ball and its speed.`

. 2. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigure providedl with an arm adapted to swing in a substantiallyvertical plane to pitch a ball overhand, means within control of aplayer for swinging said arm to project the ball, and means lfor varyingthe point of delivery of the ball to regulate its speed.

3. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigure provided. with swinging arm .adapted` to pitch overhand a ballsupported by said arm, means within control of a player for swingingsaid 'swinging arm is mounted, a lug carried by said shaft, and a setscrew mounted in said figure in the path of said lug.

5. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigureprovided with a swinging arm adapted to pitch a ball support-ed bysaid arm, a rock shaft whereon said arm is mounted, a rod pivotallyconnected at one end to said rock shaft, a spring pressed cam wheretothe other end of said rod is pivotally connected, said cam having aperipheralvshoulder, a lever, and means within control of the player foroperating it, a dog carried by said lever and engaging the shoulder ofsaid cam to oscillate the same and rock said shaft and arm, and meansalso within control of the player for tripping said dog to release saidcam.

' 6. In a game apparat-us representingthe game of base ball, a pitcherfigure provided with a swinging arm adapted to pitch a ball, a springpressed cam operativelyconnected with said arm, said cam having a'notched periphery, a lever having a dog to engage said cam, a trip leverand means for operating said levers to actuate said cam and re leasesaid dog successively.

7. In a game apparatus, representing the game of base ball, apitcher'figure provided with a swinging arm adapted to pitch a ballsupported by said arm, operating levers, means connected with saidswinging arm and actuated by the movement of one of said levers fo-rdrawing said arm backward preparatory to pitching the ball, and meansact-uated by the movement of the other lever for releasing said armretracting means at different points in the range of movement of saidarm. I

8. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigure provided with a swinging arm adapted to pitch a ball supported bysaid arm, a rocking, springpressed cam-operatively connected with saidarm, an oscillating lever, a do-g carried thereby and adapted toengagesaid cam and oscil,

late it against the tension of its spring, a second oscillating leverhaving means for tripping said dog, and means within control of aplayerfor operating said levers.

9. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigure provided -withfa swinging arm adapted to pitch a ball supportedbysaid arm, an oscillating, spring A pressed cam, an oscillating leverhaving` a ,dog to engage said cam and oscillate the same against thetension of its spring, a second oscillatingleverhaving means 1n the pathof said dog to trip the same at a predetermined point, means withincontrol of the operator for moving said oscillating levers, and meansoperating` simultaneously with said operating levers for arresting theoscillation of said cam.

10. In a game apparatus representing the game of baseball, apitcherfigure having a pitching arm swinging in a vertical plane, a ratchetdevlce including a disk, means pivotally connecting said disk with saidarm, and means actuated by the player ofthe game for oscillating saiddisk to swing said arm.

11. In a game apparatus representing the arm swinglng in a verticalplane to pitch the ball overhand, mechanism for swinging said arm, meansforV regulating the length of stroke of said arm to pitch the ball atdifferent elevations, a rotating batter figure having arms adapted tocarry a bat, and mechanism for rotating said batter ligure to swing thebat into the path of the ball. i 12.l In a game apparatus represent-ingthe game of base ball, a batter figure having arms adapted to support abat, a base whereon said figure is mounted, said base having a rotaryand a vertical movement, and means for operating said base to rotate thebatter lligure and elevate the same.

13. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a batterfigure having arms adapted to support a bat, a base whereuon said figureis mounted, said base having arotary and a vertical movement, a shaftwhereon said base 1s mounted, a rock shaft havmg a loo-se connectionwith said base for raising or lowering the same, an operating f game ofbaseball, a pitcher figure having ai.'

95 game of baseball, a pitcher ligure having an f arm adapted to supporta ball and swinging in a vertical. plane, a rotating disk, a spring putunder tension by the rotation of said disk, means within control of theplayer for i moving said disk agamst the tension of said arm.

16. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigure having an arm adapted to swing in a vertical plane and providedwith a hand adapted to support a ball, means for swinging said arm topitch the ball overhand and .means for regulating the height of deliveryof the ball.

17. In a game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a boardhaving a diamond marked off thereon, a fence supported on said board,said fence having upward eXtensions provided with openings therein, anetting supported outside said fence yand spaced therefrom, and a runwayinclosing said fence and inclined to direct the balls batted throughsaid openings back to the point representing the catchers box.

18. Ina game apparatus representing the game of base ball, a pitcherfigure having av pivoted arm and a hand adapted to support a ball andswinging forwardly to pitch the ball overhand, a spring actuated ratchetdisk operatively connected with said arm, means Within control of theplayer of the game for rocking said disk against the tension of saidspring, and means for releasing said disk at a predetermined point inits rocking movement.

19. In a game apparatus representing the game of baseball, a boardhaving a diamond marked ott thereon, a fence inclosing the diamond, arunway provided outside the fence to direct the balls back to thediamond, and means for guidingthe balls into said runway.

20. In a game apparatus representing the game of baseball, a pitcherfigure having an arm adapted to swing in a vertical plane to pitch theball overhand; a ratchet mechanism within control of one player forswinging said arm, a batter figure having arms adapted to support a bat,a rotating base whereon said figure is mounted, and an independentratchet mechanism in control of another player for rotating said baseand figure.

21. Ina game apparatus representing the f game of base ball, a boardhaving a diamond marked olf thereon, a fence provided with openingstherein, a runway provided outside said fence and arranged to direct theballs batted through said openings back into the diamond, and means fordirecting the balls into said runway. In witness whereof, we havehereunto set our hands this 1st day of July, 1911.

CHARLES E. BURCH. CHARLES A WOOLSEY. Vitnesses:

GENEVIEVE E. SoRENsEN, A. M. WALs'rnoM.

